CARBON NANOTUBE-BASED ION SOURCE FOR PARTICLE GENERATOR
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- an enclosed chamber;
an electron beam source positioned relative to the enclosed chamber, the electron beam source coated with a carbon nanotube (CNT) film;
a shield grid in a form of a cylinder;
a target material in a form of a target cylinder outside of and coaxial with the shield grid, wherein the electron beam source is positioned and configured so that an electron beam emitted from the electron beam source is inside of and coaxial with walls of the shield grid and walls of the target cylinder; and
circuitry configured to apply a high voltage potential to the target cylinder.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A neutron generator includes carbon nanotubes that function as the anode and provide deuterium storage. The ionization source includes a layer of carbon nanotubes that provides a pulse of deuterium ions through field-induced desorption and ionization of deuterium atoms on the surface or retained in the bore of the nanotubes. A high-yield (>1010 n/s) neutron generation is achieved by employing a field desorption ion source and applying an electric field of 10-40 V/nm. Such high fields may be achieved with carbon nanotubes having high aspect ratios with field enhancement factors on the order of 1000. By operating the ion source in a background pressure of deuterium or hydrogen, the gas adsorption on the nanotubes may be regenerated after each pulse.
15 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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an enclosed chamber; an electron beam source positioned relative to the enclosed chamber, the electron beam source coated with a carbon nanotube (CNT) film; a shield grid in a form of a cylinder; a target material in a form of a target cylinder outside of and coaxial with the shield grid, wherein the electron beam source is positioned and configured so that an electron beam emitted from the electron beam source is inside of and coaxial with walls of the shield grid and walls of the target cylinder; and circuitry configured to apply a high voltage potential to the target cylinder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 22)
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11. -21. (canceled)
Specification